Border wire interlock for sinuous spring cushion



June 3, 1958 J. B. GRIFFO 2,837,143

BORDER WIRE INTERLOCKFOR SINUOUS SPRING CUSHION Fi led'June 24, 1957 I:f I

IN VEN T OR.

BY Jsgaifl 6 .12%

A Tram/E nited tatcs Patent BORDER WIRE INTERLOCK FOR SINUOUS SPRINGCUSHION Joseph B. Griffo, Harper Woods, Mich., assignor to GeneralMotors Corporation, Detroit, MiclL, a corporation of DelawareApplication June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,506 4 Claims. (Cl. 155179)This invention relates to sinuous spring cushions and more particularlyto a quick action interlock arrangement for the border reinforcementwires of such cushions.

A well-known form of spring cushion comprises a plurality of sinuous orzigzag spring elements which are arranged in spaced parallel rows toprovide a seating surface and which are connected together by laterallydisposed reinforcement wires that provide edges for the cushion andmaintain the elements in proper position. In a conventional cushion ofthis type the border wires are connected to the sinuous spring elementsby a series of individual clips and the invention is concerned withproviding border Wires of such configuration as will allow the'sinuousspring elements to be quickly and directly interlocked to the borderwires thereby eliminating the clips.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a partial top plan view of the front edge of a sinuousspring cushion showing the border wire attachment arrangement of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the cushion edge showing theborder wire and sinuous spring elements in assembled relation;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the cushion edge illustratingthe manner in which the sinuous spring elements are snapped into theborder wire during assembly; and

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the cushion edge illustratinga modified form of border wire.

Referring to the drawings, the sinuous spring cushion comprises aplurality of sinuous spring wires which are arranged in spaced parallelrows to provide a resilient seating surface. The elements 10 each havethe usual straight portions 12 and 12E which are interconnected byoppositely facing loop portions 14 and 16 to form the sinuousconfiguration. Such spring cushions are wellknown and only the upperportion of the front edge of the cushion is shown, it being understoodthat the ends 18 and 20 of the elements 1% continue on and secure to asuitable frame, not shown. The ends 20 of the elements 10 beginreversely directed runs that extend beneath the seating surface runs ofthe elements and the straight portions 12E accordingly form a softfrontedge for the spring cushion.

The straight portions 12E are in lateral alignment with g each other andan edge border wire 22 is laterally disposed across the straightportions 12E to connect them in series relation and maintain them inproper position. In a conventional sinuous spring cushion the borderwire 22 would have a straight configuration and would be connected toeachstraight portion 12E by an individual clip. Reference may be had to2,775,997 Kubacka for a showing of the conventional arrangement. Theinvention eliminates the individual clips by providing a border wire of.such configuration as will allow the elements 12 to be directly snapinterlocked thereto.

The border wire 22 is provided with'a pair of bowed "ice or U-shapedportions 24 and 26 for each of the straight portions 12E. The bows 24and 26 face or open in the same direction and are axially spaced fromeach other to provide a generally vertical passage 28 in which thestraight portion can be inserted so that the front side of the straightportion will engage the bow connecting portion of the border wire. Thebowed portion 24 extends over and engages the upper side 30 of thestraight portion 12B and the bowed portion 26 extends under and engagesthe underside 32 of the straight portion. The bowed portion 24 has acentrally depending projection 34 that engages the backside of thestraight portion 12E and the bowed portion 26 has a centrally upstandingprojection 36 that engages the backside of the straight portion. Thestraight portions 12B are thus engaged on all sides whereby the sinuousspring elements 10 are by squashing out central areas in the bowedportions 24 and 26. Figure 4 shows a modified form of border wirewherein the projections 34 and 36' are formed by a downward bending ofthe central portion of the bowed portion 24 and an upward bending of thecentral portion While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beendescribed fully in order to explain the principles of the invention, itis to be understood that modifications of structure may be made by theexercise of skill in the art within the scope of the invention which isnot to be regarded as limited by the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment.

I claim:

1. In a sinuous spring cushion of the type wherein a plurality ofsinuous spring elements are arranged in spaced parallel rows to providea seating surface, each element having a straight portion in lateralalignment with a straight portion of an adjacent element, and wherein areinforcement wire is laterally disposed across the elements to seriesconnect the aligned straight portions, the improvement comprisingproviding the wire with a plurality of pairs of bowed portions allfacing the same direction and with eachpair of bowed portions receivinga respective straight portion, the bowed portions of each pair beingaxially spaced to provide a passage for inserting a respective straightportion therebetween so that the front side of the straight portionengages the bow connecting portion of the wire, the straight portionbeing thereafter rotated into engagement with the bowed portions, onebowed portion extending over and engaging the upper and back sides ofthe straight portion and the other bowed portion extending under andengaging the under and back sides of the straight portion.

2. In a sinuous spring cushion of the type wherein a plurality ofsinuous spring elements are arranged in spaced parallel rows to providea seating surface, each element having a straight portion in lateralalignment with a straight portion of an adjacent element to provide asoft edge for the cushion, and wherein an edge border wire is laterallydisposed across the elements to series connect the aligned straightportions,-the improvement comprising providing the border wire with aplurality of pairs of bowed portions all facing the same direction andwith each pair of bowed portions receiving a rea.) spective' straightportion, the bowed portions of each pair being axially spaced to providea passage for inserting a respective straight portion therebetween sothat the front side of the straight portion engages the bow connectingportion of the border wire, the straight portion being thereafterrotated into engagement with the bowed portions, one bowed portionextending over and engaging the upper side of the straight portion andhaving a central depending projection engaging the back side of thestraight portion and the other bowed portion Ir.

extending under and engaging the under side of the straight portion andhaving a central upstanding projection engaging the back side of thestraight portion.

3. In a sinuous spring cushion of the type wherein a plurality ofsinuous spring elements are arranged in spaced parallel rows to providea seating surface, each element having a straight portion in lateralalignment with a straight portion of an adjacent element to provide asoft edge for the cushion, and wherein an edge border wire is laterallydisposed across the elements to series connect the aligned straightportions, the improvement comprising providing the border wire with aplurality of pairs of bowed portions all facing the same direction andwith each pair of bowed portions receiving a respective straightportion, the bowed portions of each pair being axially spaced to providea passage for inserting a respective straight portion therebetween sothat the front side of the straight portion engages the bow connectingportion of the border wire, the straight portion being thereafterrotated into engagement with the bowed portions, one bowed portionextending over and engaging the upper side of the straight portion andhaving a central depending projection engaging the back side of thestraightpor'tion and the other bowed portion extending under andengaging the under side of the straight portion and having a centralupstanding projection engaging the back side of the straight portion,the projections comprising squashed out areas in the border wire.

4. In a sinuous spring cushion of the type wherein a plurality ofsinuous spring elements are arranged in spaced parallel rows to providea seating surface, each element having a straight portion in lateralalignment with a straight portion of an adjacent element to provide asoft edge for the cushion, and wherein an edge border wire is laterallydisposed across the elements to series connect the aligned straightportions, the improvement comprising providing the border wire with aplurality of pairs of bowed portions all facing the same direction andwith each pair of bowed portions receiving a respective straightportion, the bowed portions of each pair being axiallyvspaced to providea passage for inserting a respective straight portion therebetween sothat the front side of the straight portion engages the bow connectingportion of the border wire, the straight portion being thereafterrotated into engagement with the bowed portions, one bowed portioncurling over and engaging the upper and back sides of the straightportion and the other bowed portion curling under and engaging the underand back sides of the straight portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS-1,847,230 Zimmerman Mar. 1, 1932 2,579,970 Scampone Dec. 25, 19512,669,293 'Neely et a1. Feb. 16, 1954 2,803,020 Walters Aug. 20, 1957

